In a power-packed performance that will be remembered for years, Seattle Mariners star and current MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh etched his name into the record books Monday night, becoming the first catcher ever to win the All-Star Home Run Derby. Facing Tampa Bay Rays phenom Junior Caminero in the final round, Raleigh launched 18 home runs to Caminero’s 15 under the bright lights of Truist Park.
The Mariners slugger, affectionately nicknamed the “Big Dumper,” joined franchise legend Ken Griffey Jr. as the only two Mariners to capture the Derby crown. Raleigh’s victory was a family affair: his father, Todd Raleigh, the former head baseball coach at Tennessee and Western Carolina, pitched to him, while his younger brother Todd Raleigh Jr.—nicknamed “T”—handled catching duties and shouted encouragement throughout.
Raleigh’s road to the title nearly ended in the opening round. Tied with Oakland Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker at 17 home runs, Raleigh narrowly advanced by virtue of the longest homer tiebreaker—his longest shot sailing 470.61 feet, edging out Rooker’s 470.53 by less than a foot. From there, the Mariners catcher found his rhythm, ultimately finishing the night with 54 total homers.
The Derby’s opening round was notable for historically low totals, highlighted by New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. managing only three home runs—the lowest in over a decade. Yet the round also produced one of the contest’s most jaw-dropping moments: Pittsburgh Pirates star Oneil Cruz blasted a 513-foot home run, the longest of the night. Cruz became just the sixth player to clear the 500-foot mark since Statcast began tracking in 2016, and only the second to do so outside Denver’s Coors Field. Cruz averaged a staggering 447 feet per homer in Round 1 but was knocked out in the semifinals when Raleigh surged ahead with 19 home runs.
Raleigh made history in multiple ways. In his first round, he showcased his switch-hitting ability—hammering 10 home runs left-handed and another seven right-handed—becoming the first switch-hitter ever to claim the Derby crown.
Despite a valiant effort from Caminero, who impressed fans with his effortless power, it was Raleigh’s night. The image of him embracing his father and brother on the field afterward encapsulated the familial bond that fueled his run.
“I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a kid,” Raleigh told reporters after hoisting the trophy. “To have my dad pitch to me and my brother behind the plate—it means everything.”
The 2025 Home Run Derby not only crowned a new champion but delivered a memorable showcase of power, family pride, and history in the making—an All-Star night for the Big Dumper and for baseball fans everywhere.
